Jim grew up moving and expressing himself. A 5 sport athlete in high school, he has always loved the journey that athletic movement and competition brings. Taking his athleticism to the collegiate level found him playing 4 years of football as a wide receiver turned fullback, and punter, at Wesleyan University (CT). Yet, his creative spirit and inquisitive mind also found their home at Wes, where he majored in Theatre (alongside the likes of Lin Manuel-Miranda) and did a focus in Architecture. His senior year provided him a number of accolades on the gridiron, including a second team All-New England bid and first team all-NESCAC honors. His proficiency in punting the football turned into an NFL dream and in 2006 he moved to San Diego, CA to pursue “The League”.

Soon after moving out, he was literally kicking hundreds of footballs a week and trying out for whoever would look his way. Punting also comes with a necessity to be flexible. The wear and tear of constant motion and having to stretch from a fullback’s body to a punter’s, led him to what he describes as “playing russian roulette” with any number of possible catastrophic injuries. Like so many others, he was discouraged that his body might break down before his dreams could be realized. That’s where, in February of 2008, he met Nic Bartolotta, the founder of the resistance stretching modality, DCT. After one session with the visionary Bartolotta, Jim was hooked. “I popped up off the mat after what Nic had done, and I felt like someone had just retaught me my body in an hour. I knew I had to learn everything there was to know about it!” Rooney remembers. Learn he did, applying himself to the art and science of DCT and doing a 5 year apprenticeship under Nic directly. Jim is the first Master Instructor raised up in the system. He gained this by doing over 10,000 hours of work on athletes from all walks of life.

Jim combines his unique life experiences and flexibility expertise to provide an experience like no other. The communication of a seasoned actor and speaker, the keen eye of a long time football coach, the philosophizing of a lifelong learner and man of faith and the structural understanding of an architect leave his clients feeling empowered and inspired. He is extremely passionate about providing a life changing moment for people who have the same worry he had all those years ago, that their dreams might be limited by their body breaking down. He loves nothing more than helping optimize others to keep pursuing the story they have always wanted.